our dependence upon him. He is the light by which we see, and the end at which we aim. In all the business and events of life, we should consider only the order of his providence; and we shall maintain a sense of his presence in the midst of our business, as long as we have no other intention in performing it but purely that of obeying him." CONCLUSION. THERE are many more female examples in the Holy Scriptures which might have been selected, and of whose faith and piety pages have been written, and more able pens than mine been employed in their praise. There is the Virgin Mother of Christ, whom the angel proclaimed to be "blessed among women," and Elizabeth her cousin, the mother of John the Baptist. There is Anna the aged prophetess, who served God night and day with prayer. And there was a poor widow of whom one simple action is recorded. She put two mites into the treasury, and was commended by our Lord; and he said, "Of a truth this poor widow hath cast in more than they all. For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God, but she of her penury hath cast in all that she has." God looks to the heart of the giver, and not to the gift. He saw that her little offering was given from a right motive, and he approved of it. There is that woman whose faith was rewarded by the healing of an incurable disease with which she had been afflicted for many years. She touched the hem of Christ's garment, and was healed. Jesus comforted her by these words "Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath make thee whole." And there is the woman of Canaan whose daughter was grievously vexed with a devil. This woman cried unto the Lord to have mercy on her, but Jesus answered her not a word. But her faith was to too strong to render her disheartened at this. She still pleaded to him in behalf of her daughter. The disciples told Jesus that the woman still cried after them, so Jesus answered, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Israel." Then she came and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not meet to take the children's bread and give it to dogs." And she said, "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their Master's table." Then Jesus answered and said, " O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt." And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. This woman not only had great faith, but she had meekness, humility, patience, and perseverance in prayer. Last of all I shall mention Eunice and Lois, the grandmother and mother of Timothy, who, like Hannah, were a pattern to mothers, for Timothy is said to have known the Holy Scriptures from a child They were both women of "unfeigned faith." This we learn from St. Paul, in his Second Epistle to Timothy, chap. i, verse 5. |